Latch



Patented .Jan. 28, 1936..

LATCH Gordon E. Rocdding, Grand Rapids, Mich" assignor to Grand Rapids Brass Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application October 10, 1934, Serial No. 747,680

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to latches for the swingable door closures of refrigerators and the like; and its object is, generally, to provide an improved device of this character; and particularly, to provide such a device having a latch bolt moved into and held in latching position (operative engagement with its strike or keeper) by sufficient force to tightly close the closure, but which may be withdrawn from such engagement by comparatively little force; and further, to provide improved means for mounting the latch bolt and for operating the same.

These and any other and more specific objects hereinafter appearing are attained by, and the invention finds preferable embodiment in, the illustrative latch structure particularly described in the body of this specification and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the free edge of a swingable closure with a latch structure mounted thereon shown partially in vertical section taken on line i-i of Figure 2, the door frame or jamb with the keeper or "strike being shown sectioned on the same line;

Figure 2 "is a vertical sectional view of said structure taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1';

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the parts shown in Figure 1 taken on line 33 of that view;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of portions of certain parts shown in Figure 1 taken on line "l-l'i of Figure 2 but showing said parts in their position when the latch bolt is released and the closure is being opened;

Figure 5 is a similar view thereof but showing the parts in their position when the open closure is nearly closed.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated by the drawing, a latch'structure is shown comprising a casing l mounted by screws 2 on the free edge 3 of a swingably mounted closure 3 and containing a latch bolt 5 projecting through the casings opening 6 for engagement with its keeper I mounted by screws 8 on the face 9 of the door frame or jamb ill of the refrigerator or the like. This bolt 5 is a lever having a pair of fulcruming members, the pins H, l2 spaced in the bolts longitudinal direction, the pin it extending through the middle portion of the lever bolt between its outer arm l3 which engages the keeper and its inner arm l4, and the pin l2 extending through said inner arm. These fulcruming members, the pins ll, l2 normally bear on a pair of fulcrum I5, l6 respectively which are vertically movable relatively to each other (that is, fulcrum I5 is stationary and fulcrum I6 is movable), the fulcrum l5 being the lower end of a pair of approximately vertical slots I! in the sides l8 of the casing, and the fulcrum I6 being the horizontal under side of the curved cam slots l9 and forming an initial dwell at their outer ends, these slots being formed in the parallel side flanges of the operating lever handle 2| pivotally mounted at 22 on the casings said sides, this handle being urged by a coiled spring 23 to its normal position shown in Figures 1 and 2.

A stirrup 24 carried by the pin H is urged downwardly, by a stifi spring 25 pressing between its middle portion 26 and a stop or shelf 21 on the casing, to move the stirrup, pin H and the latch bolt into the bolts latching position shown in Figure l and hold the same in said position, the closure being tightly closed by the wedging or camming action of the inclined surface 29 of the latchs arm is engaging the keeper as seen in Figure 1, resilient packing members indicated at 30 desirably surrounding the inner side of the closure adjacent its edges to seal the refrigerator air tight.

In this normal position of the parts wherein the closure is held closed by the latch bolt, the bolts inner arm l i (desirably provided with an antifriotion roll 3| as indicated) is supported on the fulcrum or dwell it, the handle 2! being in its normal position, all as shown in Figure 1.

When it is desired to open the closure, the handle is swung outwardly, whereby the fulcrum or dwell it is moved in a direction transaxially of the pin 92, so that the roll 3i passes ofi of said fulcrum dwell and is moved farther into the slot 119, and its cam upper side 32 traveling on this roll forces .arm M of the bolt downwardly and its arm l3 upwardly out of latching engagement with the keeper, the bolt in this movement turning on the fulcrum 15, the bottom of slots ii. The parts are now in the position seen in Figure 4. When the closure is open and the handle is released its spring 23 returns the handle to its said normal position, this action camming the roll 3! out of the inner portion of slot I9 and onto the fulcrum dwell 16 so that the parts are again in-the position shown in Figure 1 except that the closure is open.

When the closure is then closed by slamming it shut, the curved forward under edge 33 of the bolts arm [3 riding up on the edge 34 of the keeper raises'the bolt to the position seen in Figure 5 against the pressure of spring 25, so that when the point 35 of the bolt passes the keeper the spring 25 suddenly turns the bolt to latching engagement with the keeper shown in Figure 1.

It will be seen of the bolt is brought about by the relative movementof the two fulcrums l5, IS on which the bolts fulcruming members H, II respectively turn, and that the spring 251s not affected by said movement, so that although this spring may be very stiff 'for engaging the bolt with its keeper, the bolt is mevable out of such engagement by slight force; applied to the operating handle 2|. 21

It will also be seen that each of the fulcruming members; I I, I2 is movable relatively to its fulcrum IE or iii into and out'of supported position thereo'n' and that such movement of one of said members is at approximately right angles to such movement ofthe other member.

The invention being intended to be pointed out in the claims, is not to be limited to or by details of construction of any particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawing'or hereinbefore described.

I claim:

lfA latch structure comprising: a lever latch bolt having spaced fulcruming members; fulcrums for said members respectively, one of the members being mounted for reversible movement to supported position on its fulcrum in a direction parallel with the bolts movement to its latching position; a spring urging said member in its said movement and the bolt to latching position; an operating unitary handle carrying the other fulcrum in a position supporting the other member in the normal position of the handle and in the latching position of the bolt, the handle being movable from its normal position for moving said other fulcrum from its said supporting position; means operable by the handle in its said movement for moving said other member about the axis of the first-mentioned member to thus turn the bolt on the first-mentioned fulcrum from latching position, the handle being reversely movable to normal position for moving said other member reversely to thus turn the bolt reversely and for moving said other fulcrum into its said supporting position, the boltin its last-mentioned position being turned on'said other fulcrum and the first-mentiened member being reversely moved against the pressure of the spring from supported position on the first-mentioned fulcrum by the movement of the bolts latching arm caused by its engagement with the bolts. keeper in the movement of the closure to closed position.

2. A latch structure comprising: a lever latch bolt having spaced fulcruming members; fulcrums for said members respectively, one of the members being mounted for reversible movement to supported position on its fulcrum in a direction parallel with the bolts movement to its latching position; a spring urging said member in its said movement and the bolt to latching position; an operating unitary handle carrying the other fulcrum in a position supporting the other member in the normal position of the handle .and in the iatching position of the bolt, the handle being movable from its normal position for moving said other fulcrum from its said supporting position; means operable by the handle in its said movement for moving said other member about the axis of the first-mentioned member to thus turn the bolt on the first-mentioned fulcrum from latching position, the handle being reversely movable to normal position that the unlatching linovement for moving said other member reversely to thus turn the-bolt reversely and for moving said other fulcrum into its said supporting position, the bolt in its last-mentioned position being turned on said other fulcrum and the first-mentioned member being reversely moved against the pres-- bol t having spaced fulcruming members; relativfely movable fulcrums for said members respectively; 'a spring pressing one of the members on its fulcrum and the bolt to the bolts latching position; an operating handle carrying the ether fuierum and in normal position supporting the other member thereon, the handle bfeing moi able from normal position for moving said other fulcrum transaxially from such supporting position and having means engaging said ether member for moving the same about the axis of the firstmentioned member to thin; turn the bolt on the first-mentioned fulcrum from latching position and movable to normal position for moving said other member by said means reversely to thus turn the bolt to latching position and moving said other fulcrum to position supporting said other member.

4. A latch structure comprising: a lever latch bolt having spaced fulcruming members; relatively movable fulcrums for said members respectively; a spring pressing one of the members on its fulcrum and the bolt to the bolts latching position; an operating handle carrying the other fulcrum and. in normal position supporting the other member thereon, the handle being movable from normal position for moving said other fulcrum transaxially from such supporting position and having means engaging said other member fer moving the same about the axis of the firstmentioned member to thus turn the bolt on the first-mentioned fulcrum from latching position and movable to normal position for moving said other member by said means reversely tc thus turn the bolt to latching position and moving said other fulcrum to position supporting said other member; a spring urging the handle to normal position.

5. In a latch structure for a swingable closure: a casing having a slot forming a fulcrum; a lever latch bolt having a pin turnable and transaxially slidable in the slot; a stirrup carried by the pin;

in the handles normal position, the handle being turnable from normal position for moving said dwell from such supporting position and for moving the arm about the axis of the pin to thus turn r the bolt about said axis from latching position, the handle being movable to normal position for moving the arm by the cam slot reversely, turning the bolt to latching position and moving the dwell to position supporting the arm; a spring urging the handle to normal position.

-6. A latch structure comprising: a lever latch bolt having spaced fulcruming members; relatively movable fulcrums for said members re-.

spectively; a spring urging one of the members on its fulcrum and -the bolt in the bolts latching direction; a pivotally mounted handle having a curved cam slot receiving the other member, the slot having an initial dwell forming the other ,fulcrum and in the handles normal position ing position, the handle being turnable to normal position for moving said other member reversely by the cam slot. to thus turn the bolt to latching position and for moving the dwell fulcrum to its position supporting said other member.

V, '7. A latch=structure comprising: a casing having a slide bearing extending in the direction of the hereinafter-mentioned bolts movement to latching position; a lever latch bolt in the casing having space fulcruming members, one of said 1 members being slidable in said bearing; relatively movable fulcrums for said members respectively, one of said fulcrums being the end of said bearing; a spring urging said member onto its said fulcrum and the bolt to latching position; a pivotally mounted handle having a curved cam slot receiving the other member, the slot having an initial dwell forming the other fulcrum and in the handles normal position supporting said other member thereon, the handle being turnable from normal position for moving said dwell fulcrum transaxially of the member thereon from such supporting position and for moving said other 'member about the axis of the first-mentioned member to thus turn the bolt on the first-mentioned fulcrum from latchingposition, the handle being turnable to normal position for moving said other member reversely by the cam slot to thus turn the bolt to latching position and for moving the dwell fulcrum to its position supporting said other member.

8. A latch structure comprising: a casing having a slide bearing extending in the direction of the hereinafter-mentioned bolts movement to latching position; a lever latch bolt in the casing having spaced fulcruming members, one of said members being slidable in said bearing; relatively movable fulcrums for said members respectively, one of said fulcrums being the end of said bearing; a spring urging said member onto its said fulcrum and the bolt to latching position; a pivotally mounted handle having a curved cam slot receiving the other member, the slot having an initial dwell forming the other fulcrum and in the handles normal position supporting said other member thereon, the handle being turnable from normal position for moving said dwell fulcrum transaxially of the member thereon from such supporting position and for moving said other member about the axis of the first-mentioned member to thus turn the bolt on the first-mentioned fulcrum from latching position, the handle being turnable to normal position for moving said other member reversely by the cam slot to thus turn the bolt to latching position and for moving the dwell fulcrum to its position supporting said other member; a spring urging the handle to normal position.

9. A latch structure comprising: a casing having a slide bearing extending in the direction of the hereinafter-mentioned bolts movement to latching position; a lever latch bolt in the casing having spaced fulcruming members, one of said members being slidable in said bearing; relatively movable fulcrums for said. members respectively, one of said fulcrums being the end of said bearing; a spring urging said member onto its. said fulcrum and the bolt to latching position;

.a pivotally mounted handle having a curved cam slot receiving the other member, the slot having an initial dwell forming the other fulcrum and in the handles normal position supporting said other member thereon, the handle being turnable from normal position for moving said dwell fulcrum transaxially of the member thereon from such supporting position and for moving said other member about the axis of the first-mentioned member to thus turn the bolt on the firstmentioned fulcrum from latching position, the handle being turnable to normal position for moving said other member reversely by the cam slot to thus turn the bolt to latching position and for moving the dwell fulcrum to its position supporting said other member, the bolt in its last-mentioned position being turned on said other fulcrum and the first-mentioned member being reversely moved against the pressure of the spring from supported position on the first-mentioned fulcrum by the movement of the bolts latching arm caused by its engagement with the bolts keeper in the movement of the closure to closed position.

Y 10. A latch structure comprising: a casing having a slide bearing extending in the direction of the hereinafter-mentioned bolts movement to latching position; a lever latch bolt in the casing having spaced fulcruming members, one of said members being slidable in said bearing; relatively movable fulcrums for said members respectively, one of said fulcrums being the end of said bearing; a spring urging said member onto its said fulcrum and the bolt to latching position; a pivotally mounted handle having a curved cam slot receiving the other member, the slot having an initial dwell forming the other fulcrum and in the handles normal position supporting said other member thereon, the handle being turnable from normal position for moving said dwell fulcrum transaxially of the member thereon from such supporting position and for moving said other member about the axis of the first-mentioned member to thus turn the bolt on the firstmentioned fulcrum from latching position, the

handle being turnable to normal position for moving said other member reversely by the cam slot to thus turn the bolt to latching position and for moving the dwell fulcrum to its position supporting said other member, the bolt in its last-mentioned position being turned on said other fulcrum and the first-mentioned member being reversely moved against the pressure of the spring from supported positionon the firstmentioned fulcrum by the movement of the bolts latching arm caused by its engagement with the bolts keeper in the movement of the closure to closed position; a spring urging the handle to normal position.

11. A latch structure comprising: a lever latch bolt having spaced fulcruming members; relatively movable fulcrums for said members respectively, each of the members having a movement to and from supported position on its fulcrum, such movements of the respective memable to normal position for moving said other member by said means reversely to thus turn the boltv to latching position and moving said other fulcrum to position supporting said other member, the bolt inits last-mentioned position being turned on said other fulcrum and the first-mentioned member, being reversely moved against the pressure of the spring from supported position on the first-mentioned fulcrum by the movement of the bolts latching arm caused by its engagemen't with the bolts keeper in the movement of the closure-to closed position.

GORDON E. ROEDDING. 

